Senile Dementia: Symptoms and Treatment

Senile dementia (dementia, insanity) is an acquired condition in the elderly , caused by organic brain damage.

Manifestations of dementia can be completely diverse. But the initial signs of the disease, as a rule, are the same and are characterized by an apathetic state, a decrease in interest in the environment and the emergence of dependence on close people. At the same time, as the intellect decreases, a person has untidiness, he ceases to take care of himself. Women are especially prone to disease.

Further symptoms of the disease are:

• Violations of speech function, loss of writing and numeracy skills;

• memory changes - the patient often forgets the number of the month and the day of the week, even the names of the closest people;

• emotional changes - the patient appears detachment from reality, the manifestation of emotions may be the most unexpected;

• occurrence of delirium and hallucinations.

Older dementia usually progresses and leads to complete social disadaptation up to disability. Patients with dementia are required to watch around the clock - dressing, bathing, feeding, driving to the toilet, etc.

Classification of dementia

Dementias are classified for reasons that precede them. The disease can be associated with:

- neurological and vascular diseases;

- intoxication (alcoholic or narcotic dementia or dementia caused by arsenic poisoning) ;

- internal diseases (hepatic, renal insufficiency, thyroid dysfunction).

The manifestation of dementia in the elderly is often affected by the regular use of medicines.

Increased manifestations of the disease suffered infectious diseases and surgical interventions, cardiac disorders, mental trauma.

Senile Dementia: Treatment

Most often at the initial stage of the disease, such methods of treatment as vitamin and mineral complexes, general restorative therapy, the use of nootropic drugs are used.

Senile dementia is also treated:

• The use of drugs aimed at improving the connection between neurons and ensuring the circulation of blood in the brain;
• The consumption of foods rich in antioxidants;
• Use of antipsychotics and antidepressants.

But we need to understand that the treatment is aimed only at stabilizing the patient's condition. Senile dementia, unfortunately, is not cured.

Prevention of senile dementia

Old diseases of a similar nature, according to doctors, can be prevented. Of course, prevention methods do not guarantee that a person will not get sick, but, nevertheless, to delay the onset of dementia are quite capable.

Prevention should be started in middle age. Here's how you can protect yourself from the disease:

- Take care of your health. The risk of developing the disease is high in diabetics, smokers, hypertensive people, people with excessive weight and depressive character.

- Healthy food. It is necessary to focus on vitamins and antioxidants - folic acid, vitamin B12, E.

- Do not sit still. Active people are less likely to suffer from dementia. Cardio, yoga and even shopping, cleaning the apartment protects the brain cells from destructive processes.

- Train the brain - read, solve crossword puzzles, play chess, learn foreign words.

- Have sex. Sex improves the blood supply to the brain.

One more method of disease prevention will be timely medical examinations. After all, often the cause of senile dementia are various infections and neglected chronic diseases. If in time to diagnose such diseases and treat them, it will increase the chances of living unremitting old age.